Production of animated pictures



Nov. 29, 1966 M. BARNES, JR

PRODUCTION OF ANIMATED PICTURES Filed Oct. 25, 1963 INVENTOR ARTHUR M. BAR/V55, JR.

United States Patent 3,288,548 PRODUCTION OF ANIMATED PICTURES Arthur M. Barnes, In, Whiifet Studio, Bethlehem Pike, Colmar, Pa. Filed Oct. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 318,938 7 Claims. (Cl. 352-87) This invention relates to the production of animated pictures and more particularly to methods of and apparatus for such production.

In the production of animated pictures by a method known as cell animation separate drawings on transparent sheets are superposed over a background. The total motion to be accomplished for a particular action, such as taking a step or raising the hand, is divided among separate drawings, each of which drawings represents one twelfth of the total movement to be illustrated. This division is used particularly where a conventional arrangement of twenty-four frames per second is employed in the photography. It may be necessary to superpose as many as siX, eight or even more transparent sheets of drawings to bring together different figures. The use of multiple sheets in this manner frequently involves undesired color changes and requires very careful operation. The large number of drawings required a large number of artists or long time for production of the drawings, either of which renders this method very costly. It may serve the purpose for motion picture production where numerous showings can absorb the cost but it is much too costly for television use where frequently only a single showing or play is required or desired.

Another recognized method for the production of animated pictures, known as stop motion animation, includes the use of a figure, two dimensional or three dimensional, which is set up at the desired initial position. The figure is then moved physically through one increment, such as one twelfth, of the desired total movement, for each photographic step. At times an upper part or a low part of a figure is used separately. The frame count of the photograph is of importance and must be carefully watched. Any false setting causes jerky movements to appear in the finished product which spoil the visual effect. With stop motion animation it is possible to use three dimensional packages or other articles to be advertised and these must be handled in the same manner as any other figure.

The methods or systems referred to above require a long time to make the necessary set-ups and camera exposures and require the efforts of many persons thereby requiring large expenditures to produce the desired result.

It is the principal object of the present invention to produce animated pictures in a simple, inexpensive but effective manner with the action controlled step by step and with the action photographed in separate frames as it occurs to retain it within a controlled number of frames.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce animated pictures on film for subsequent reproduction in which any motion at any time and at any place of the locations viewed is keyed to the frame exposed in the camera, and without regard to the speed of advance of the film.

3,288,548 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 It is a further object of the present invention to produce animated pictures in which the objects to be pictured can have continuous motion, can have incremental motion with a stop just before and during exposure, or pictures from objects having both characteristics.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce animated pictures which can be easily tied in with a prerecorded sound track.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce animated pictures in which the speed of picture taking is controlled, i.e. slower than, faster than or at play out speed, so that live action can be superposed upon the action of inanimate but animated figures.

It is a further object of the present invention to utilize any desired apparatus for the control of figures in step by step movement, with or without live action superposed, and photographing the same in synchronization so that the action can be retained within a controlled number of frames.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce animated pictures by methods and apparatus which are suited for limited or even single use by reason of the greatly lowered costs as compared with those for present practical methods.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will 'be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of one form of apparatus which is useful for carrying out the production of animated pictures in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, on a larger scale, of a two dimensional figure which may be employed in connection with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure and methods disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In accordance with the invention in its most simplified form a figure is employed at a desired location in association with any desired background, movable or fixed, the figure being provided with control devices movable from a remote control location, together with a camera having a continuous strip of film and a shutter control for separate successive frames or pictures of the objects at or brought to the desired location.

Additionally, at a location offset from the location of the figure and background, a live object may be employed together with a prism or the like to bring the image to the desired location.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, supporting legs 10 are shown on which a lower frame 11 is carried. The frame 11 can have opposite longitudinal trackways 12 for engagement by wheels 13 which carry an intermediate frame 14. The intermediate frame 14 has transverse trackways 15 for engagement by wheels 16 which carry a table 17 capable of being adjustably positioned horizontally. The table 17 can be and preferably is transparent. At one end of the lower frame 11 and extending thereab-ove a background supply frame 20 is provided for the reception of a plurality of background storage rolls, for providing landscape, buildings, interiors, Seascape, clouds, sky, objects in the sky, and the like, one roll 21 for a continuous or intermittent supply of a background carrying strip 22 being shown. The strip 22 is wound onto a roll 23 carried on a background storage frame 24 which is adapted for the reception of a plurality of such storage rolls.

The background strip 22 has a selected portion or portions visible through the table 17 The background storage frame 24 has an object supporting framework 30 carried thereby with a box 31 within which live models, or natural objects in motion or at rest, such as burning flames, smoke or steam or water sources, packages, or the like can be displayed although such objects can also be displayed outside the box 31 if desired. The length of the framework 30 permits of supporting objects therealong as desired.

The lower frame 11 also has extending upwardly therefrom a camera carrying frame 33 with a horizontal arm 34 on which is mounted a camera 35 having its lens aperture facing toward the table 17 The camera 35, has an interconnected film feed and shutter mechanism, of any well known type, for providing for the controlled exposure of successive frames.

The arm 34 can also have supported thereby an image transfer device 36, such as a prism or a reflecting mirror, for transferring the image of objects at or within the box 31 onto the table 17 for superposition, if desired, with figures on the table 17.

The figures utilized on the table 17 and within the viewing field of the camera 35 can be of any desired type and both fixed and actuated by remote control in any desired manner.

Merely by way of illustration the frame 11 can have mounted thereon a gear box 38 with an input shaft 39 operated in any desired manner such as by a hand crank 40. A counter 37 may indicate the number of rotations of the shaft 39.

The gear box 38 is adapted for the connection of flexible shafts or other rotation transfer devices to desired locations.

As illustrated a flexible shaft 41 extends to the camera for shutter operation and film advance, a flexible shaft 42 extends to the camera 35 for advancing and retracting a screen (not shown) to permit images or prevent images from the box 31 being viewed by the camera 35. A flexible shaft 43 extends to the roll 23 for effecting movement thereof, and a flexible shaft 44 extends to a power take off box 45. A flexible shaft 4-6 can also extend to the box 31 for actuating an object therein in timed relation.

The power take off box 45 has a plurality of output shafts 47 which can be driven together, or at different speeds, or in different directions, depending upon their internal connection and the output desired.

The outlet shafts 47 are particularly useful for effecting timed change of position of a figure or part thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 one figure for use at the viewing location is illustrated merely for purposes of explanation. One of the shafts 47 has a crank 48 secured thereto for movement therewith. The frame 14, at spaced locations is provided with stub shafts 49 carrying pulleys '50. A cord 51 secured to the crank 48 and carried on the pulleys 50 is wrapped onto an actuating spindle 52 of a figure 53 whose legs 54 and 55 are to be'moved.

Any desired type of leg actuation may be employed, that shown including the leg 54 being connected directly to the spindle 52, the leg 55 having an offset pivot center 56 and a pin 57 engaging in a slot 58 in the leg 54. Upon rotation of the spindle 52 by the cord 51 the legs 54 and 55 will alternately move backward and forward in predetermined timed relation.

in size.

A plurality of lamps 66 in reflectors 61 on standards 62 carried by the frame 11 can be employed to illuminate the viewing location with the desired color and intensity of light. Additional lamps (not shown) can be employed for supplying illumination from beneath thetable 17 if desired.

The mode of use will be referred to.

The program to be pictured is first worked out in some detail. The background or backgrounds to be used and selected such as earth, water, sky, or interior, and mounted for advance as desired from a roll 21 to a roll 23.

The desired figure 53 or the like which is to be included in the pictorial sequence has been selected in conformity with the program and is placed at the desired location on the table 17 within the viewing range of the camera 35 and mechanically connected for timed actuation to provide the type and kind of movements desired. The power take off box 45 can be employed but other sources of power could be employed.

If an object or objects are to be employed at the box 31 these are prepared and mechanically connected if desired and required for movement.

The camera 35 is focused and the desired lighting established with the lamps 60.

Upon rotation of the input shaft 40, say one turn, a predetermined timed movement is applied, according to the timed set up, to one or more of the background strip 22, the legs 54 and 55 of the figure 53 to provide the desired incremental change in position so that upon the actuation of the shutter of the camera 35 the desired picture will be available at the frame and with or without the objects at the box 31, dependent upon the set up.

Further movement of the shaft 40, say of one turn, can be utilized to provide the next incremental movement of the figure 53 and/or background strip 22, and the recording thereof at the next frame of the film.

The objects, or some of them, either at the box 31 or on the table 17 can have continuous motion, and any blur on the film due to such motion does not necessarily detract from the result.

It will thus be seen that animated pictures can be made with the action at one or more locations controlled step by step, with selected and predetermined increments, photographed in separate frames as it occurs with the action and the camera coordinated, the speed of the action being at the option of the operator and not dependent upon the play out speed.

The sizes of the objects can be varied, some objects being used as they are found, and others being increased Continuously moving intermittently moved and or fixed objects, can be employed separately or together to produce the desired pictorial output in a particular frame.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the production of animated pictures comprising a table, having a viewing location, movable background means at said viewing location, an object component of a picture located at said viewing location and having a movable portion, a camera in viewing relation to said viewing location, means for moving said movable portion with an incremental motion, means for operating said camera to expose a frame of film, and a common driving device to which said means are connected.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which an additional object location is provided, and a transfer device is provided for transferring an image from said additional object location to said viewing location in superposed relation to the viewing location.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which operating means are provided extending to said additional object location, said means being connected to said common driving device.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 having lighting means for said viewing location.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said shiftable background means is linearly movable.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said shiftable background means is movable with respect to said viewing location, and members are provided for moving said background means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said last means has a portion connected to said common driving device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,227,075 5/ 1917 Rowntree 352-54 3,068,744 12/1962 Wright 35287 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,046,926 7/ 1953 France.

473,192 3/1929 Germany.

0 JULIA E. COINER, Primary Examiner.

NORTON ANSHER, Examiner.

W. MISIEK, H. H. FLANDERS, Assistant Examiners. 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ANIMATED PICTURES COMPRISING A TABLE, HAVING A VIEWING LOCATION, MOVABLE BACKGROUND MEANS AT SAID VIEWING LOCATION, AN OBJECT COMPONENT OF A PICTURE LOCATED AT SAID VIEWING LOCATION AND HAVING A MOVABLE PORTION, A CAMERA IN VIEWING RELATION TO SAID VIEWING LOCATION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE PORTION WITH AN INCREMENTAL MOTION, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID CAMERA TO EXPOSE A FRAME OF FILM, AND A COMMON DRIVING DEVICE TO WHICH SAID MEANS ARE CONNECTED. 